In this podcast episode, Adam Bergman, Managing Director at EcoTech Capital, provides insights on the state of exits, valuations, and fundraising in the AgTech and FoodTech sectors, offering a realistic perspective on what founders need to survive in 2025-2026. He discusses the current lack of exits, attributing it to unrealistic valuations, overfunding, and stalled IPO/M&A markets. Bergman predicts that 2026 will see a wave of bankruptcies in the sector, as companies will need to prove their profitability and attract outside investment.

Bergman highlights the importance of narrowing focus and hitting real milestones for companies in the industry to attract investor interest and unlock revenue or strategic partnerships. He emphasizes the need for CEOs to ruthlessly cut burn and focus on a small number of key milestones, as the era of "go-big-go-fast" is no longer viable in today's landscape. Ultimately, Bergman's insights provide valuable guidance for founders looking to navigate the competitive and challenging funding environment in the AgTech and FoodTech sectors.